Another footstep, 39th parallel Feb. 7, 2008

The moment I heard it

…the plan to take a 39th step abroad, I was excited. Me of all people with my ‘fans’ background.
I am used to putting on shows about British football mostly for the British people but also with the foreign market in mind – I want to show off what is peculiarly ours to those that would lap it up on first sight and those who are harder work, perhaps with their own agenda. British football particularly has thrilled me over the years. Only thIng is I’m probably the only one who insists on seeing all my exhibitions home and abroad.

Even so, my perception is a weekend perfectly placed in the exact middle of the season which is unlike any other and which is when the homegrown fans can have a day off, put their feet up, ask all their mates around and have a great time watching all 10 premiership pairings one after the other, with something at stake. I don’t think their loyalty is at stake. I don’t think it’s the beginning of the end – indeed it’s the greatest opportunity to ask of the Premier League something special be returned to the fans to help reestablish football as part of a community fabric in the country that shall ever be the cradle of the game.